How Much Does It Hurt? Let's Scan Your Brain
How Much Does It Hurt? Let's Scan Your Brain
For the first time, scientists have been able to predict how much pain people are feeling by looking at images of their brains The findings, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, may lead to the development of reliable methods doctors can use to objectively quantify a patient’s pain. Now, pain intensity can only be measured based on a patient’s own description, which often includes rating the pain on a scale of one to ten. Objective measures of pain could confirm those pain reports, and provide new clues into how the brain generates different types of pain. The new research results may also set the stage for the development of methods for using brain scans to objectively measure anxiety, depression, anger or other emotional states. The research team included SMART-group member Martin Lindquist.
To hear more about the study go to: http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/04/11/176734309/how-much-does-it-hurt-lets-scan-your-brain